Soldiers from 4th Bn, 23rd Inf Regt, 5th Bde, 2nd ID conduct a joint patrol with ANA and ANP in Shabila Kalan, Zabul prov., Nov. 30, 2009.
AF Staff Sgt. Christine Jones, a photographer with 4th Combat Camera Sqdrn.
An Afghan village elder observes U.S. Soldiers from 4th Bn, 23rd Inf Regt, 5th Bde, 2nd ID conduct a joint patrol.
A U.S.interpreter hands out candy to Afghan children.
Afghan boys tend to their heard of sheep.
U.S. Soldiers and ANA.
An Afghan boy observes U.S. Soldiers.
Meeting in Shabila Kalan
(AF photos by Staff Sgt. Christine Jones)
AF Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez, 4th Combat Camera Sqdrn, shows digital photographs to an ANA soldier.
Patrols and Meetings Near Arghandab
(AF photos by Tech. Sgt. Francisco Govea II)
Charlie Co, 1st Bn, 17th Inf Regt, 5th Bde, 2nd ID take cover in a river bed during a security mission in Chabar, Dec. 3, 2009. The Soldiers are conducting counter insurgency ops.
Pfc. Stevie Wise searches for enemy movement.
Spc. Shawn Taylor and Spc. Justin Lewis prepare to launch 60 mm mortars. The U.S. Army operates from COPs to add flexibility to ops in their sectors.
Lt. Col. Patrick Gaydon 5th BSTB, 2nd ID meets with the district gov. at a shura in the Joint District Community Center, Dec. 3, 2009. The shura is held at the JDCC by the district gov. to meet with the people of the Arghandab.
An Afghan explains the process to complete business grant applications.
An Afghan presents a cauliflower during a shura. The cauliflower was grown locally and was brought in to show local leaders that the farmers in the area support the Arghandab Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (AIRP).
Lisa Vanderhei, mgr with the AIRP, passes a proposal to the district gov. The AIRP project will improve the lives of Afghans living in Kandahar Prov., by providing employment opportunities and a secure water supply to increase agricultural capacity.
Carson Coleman, agribusiness consultant with USAID, meets with Cari Mullah, tribal leader, and Capt. Jon Burton with Charlie Co. The meeting was held to discuss plans for a joint venture involving USAID's agriculture experts and the Tribal leader.
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Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan
Combined Patrol in Mahamad Musa Kalay
(AF photos by Staff Sgt. Dayton Mitchell)
U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Bn conduct a dismounted patrol in Hutal, Dec. 3, 2009.
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Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan
Computers Delivered to School
(Photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb)Spc. James Harrison, SECFOR member of PRT Ghazni, secures the area during the delivery of computers for the students of the Danesh Center educational facility in Ghazni City.
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"It was much more than just a basketball game for JBB; it was a memorial," said 1st Sgt. Gary Sanders, the senior NCO with that unit. "It was a way people brought something good out of a bad situation." During halftime, a memorial presentation showed photos and a video of Cote. There in the middle of a close, enthusiastic game, everyone showed quiet respect for their fallen comrade, said Sanders. "The whole audience went silent," he said. "You could drop a pin in that place, and you would have heard it. Everybody stopped and started watching the screen."
Sanders said the trophy awarded to the winning Army team will be sent to Cote's wife, Ashlee Cote. Members of the unit continue to stay in touch with her, he said. Perrine said overall, this was an event that honored Cote's memory and his personality. "He was loud, he was funny, he was full of life," she said. "With the cheering and the bantering ... and the morale – that was Mike. He was never down."
"We can't simulate the noise that the choppers make, but we can teach them to communicate without being able to hear," said Pvt. Cheston Bun, cannon crew member. "The hand signals that we use are universal, and the commandos have picked up on them at a much more rapid pace than we had anticipated."
Although much of the training was done on the ground, each of the groups did have the opportunity to conduct an actual flight response patrol. "We're thankful for all of the training that our U.S. partners have provided," said 1st Lt. Jassim, commando plt leader. "They've placed a great deal in making sure we'll be able to conduct ops on our own in the future."
Nasar, who is blind and a leading advocate for the BBA, teaches Social Studies in the Basrah school system. Despite the many needs of the BBA, it receives no support from the central or local govt. Many BBA members, Nasar explained, have never learned to use the Braille method to read and write. For others, there's new voice software that enables computers to talk.
The Basrah PRT turned to the U.S. Baghdad embassy to fund equipment and training to help the BBA. The request was approved in record time, and the 1st class of 25 students graduated the last week of Nov. from the 18-day BBA course, and 50 more members are slated for training in the next 2 months.
The PRT is encouraging the provincial govt, private sector and religious institutions to take a leadership role in supporting groups like the BBA in the future.
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MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
Near Al Mahawil, located south of Baghdad, IP captured a wanted AQI member, suspected of facilitating terrorist activities, such as IED attacks in the region. Joint security team intel led IP and U.S. advisors to search residential buildings where the AQI suspect may have been located. Based on preliminary questioning and evidence discovered on the premises, IP identified and arrested the AQI suspect, and an alleged criminal associate.
During a separate security op conducted in NE Mosul, ISF and U.S. advisors searched 2 buildings for an AQI member believed to be leading an IED cell suspected of staging deadly attacks in the area. Based on evidence gathered at the scene, 5 individuals believed to be associates of the AQI suspect were arrested without incident.
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